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Money back from solar panel company

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Liz65
Liz65 Posts: 126 Forumite
Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts
Hi,  my dad has old solar panels on his bungalow and was recently involved with a company that said they could clean them and maintain them for £5000.  He signed up with a 14 day cooling period and then decided he didn’t want to go ahead as he had spoken to someone that said that this wasn’t feasible and to replace anything to do with solar panels would cost more.  He has received some money back but still has a sum of money to come back and they have not yet returned the money. 
He has been told to contact ombudsman but there are no sections for this sort of complaint or am I being thick. Thanks

Comments

  • Keep_pedalling
    Keep_pedalling Posts: 20,765 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    There is no ombudsman to complain to, if he does not get his money back then he can go through the small claims court to get it back. He should write to them giving them 14 days to return his money or he will be taking legal action to recover the amount owed. Keep a copy and get proof of posting from the post office. 

    £5k is a total rip off it doesn’t cost much to clean the panels and there is little to go wrong with the system. A replacement inverter is only a few £100. 
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 22,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    How did he pay?
  • Liz65
    Liz65 Posts: 126 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts
    He paid by cheque as they didn’t take card.  I have emailed them asking them to pay the remaining amount and threatened legal action if we nothing back. Thank you for replies
  • Alderbank
    Alderbank Posts: 3,895 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Have they actually done any cleaning?
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 18,173 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 7 July at 6:35PM
    I hate to ask, but is your dad generally in the habit of giving £5k to people who walk up at his door with a sales patter?
    £5k is enough to get a complete new solar panel installation, with certification and a 25-year insurance-backed guarantee. Paying that much to have them "cleaned and maintained" is an outrageous swindle.
    What's the name of the company?
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 34 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • Liz65
    Liz65 Posts: 126 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts
    Hi, sorry, just found out it was £2,500 not £5k. The company is called The Renewable Energy Company. We wrote a letter and my dad got a phone call saying they would pay by Friday just gone, but no money arrived.  So no we aren’t sure what to do
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 18,173 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 13 July at 8:18PM
    This company?
    Their recent reviews are terrible and £2500 is still far more than anyone should reasonably be asked to pay for a "clean and service", IMHO.
    Give them another call tomorrow and see what they say. If they don't pay up soon (this week) I'd suggest a Letter Before Claim (there's a template around here somewhere).
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 34 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • Liz65
    Liz65 Posts: 126 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 10 Posts
    Thanks for reply, they still haven’t paid up despite a letter threatening with legal action.  My dad has tried ombudsman and no good so I will try the small claims court.
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 18,173 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Good luck, and please keep us updated with progress!
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 34 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
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